Fostering creativity at AZC Arnhem
We're excited to share with you the inspiring journey of the AZC Arnhem project, a creative initiative spearheaded by Ruimtekoers and Verre binding, with support from the Royal Talens Foundation. Running from October 2024 through the end of 2025, this project aims to connect young adults and build community through the transformative power of art.
Breaking barriers through art
Bureau Ruimtekoers is the premier platform for socially engaged artists and designers who want to create socially relevant work with and for diverse groups of people.
Verre binding is a cultural program where asylum center residents, creative makers, social institutions, cultural organizations, and other Arnhem locals meet through cultural activities. This initiative creates meaningful connections across different communities through shared artistic experiences.
Together, these organizations provide safe spaces for self-expression and community building through the AZC Arnhem initiative.
Project at a glance
- Lead organization: Ruimtekoers
- Timeline: October 2024 - December 2025
- Participants: 25 young adults
- Art Forms: Drawing and painting workshops
- Special contributor: Merel Jansen, former Royal Talens colleague and accomplished artist
One participant shared a particularly moving insight: "In my home country, it was not considered masculine to draw or paint. Here, I feel the freedom to even draw flowers and fashion." This powerful statement highlights how art creates spaces where people can express themselves authentically and challenge limiting cultural norms.
A special connection
We're particularly proud that Merel Jansen, our former colleague and talented artist, has contributed her expertise to this project. Her involvement brings an additional layer of connection between Royal Talens Foundation and this initiative, strengthening our shared commitment to making art accessible to everyone.
Supported projects
The Royal Talens Foundation has provided art materials to the Palestine Humanitarian Response Centre (PHRC) for their upcoming Children's Hub in Cairo. This initiative aims to offer creative outlets and trauma relief to Palestinian children who have fled Gaza and currently lack access to formal education.
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At the Royal Talens Foundation, we're delighted to share the impactful work of Villa Zapakara, a nonprofit organization in Suriname dedicated to enriching children's lives through educational and cultural programs. Their current initiative, running from August 2024 through December 2026, demonstrates how creative materials can play a vital role in connecting young people with their cultural heritage.
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The Royal Talens Foundation is proud to support Aisha & Friends in their meaningful work at the Kilifi County Referral Hospital's children's ward in Kenya. In October 2024, art supplies donated by the foundation brought creativity and joy to over 30 young patients and hospital staff.
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In a heartwarming collaboration this October, the Royal Talens Foundation provided art materials to Le Nid d'Artistes ("The Artist's Nest"), enabling 30 young artists to bring their imaginative worlds to life through creative workshops in Switzerland. The initiative specifically reached children from modest backgrounds, including young refugees from countries like Iran and Ukraine, who might otherwise not have access to quality art education.
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